- Alex Dunne
- Sat, Sep 02 2017
Martin O'Neill's promised in the lead up to Saturday's crucial World Cup Qualifying fixture against Georgia that the key to victory lay in the Republic of Ireland keeping hold of ball against the side from the Caucasus region.
And so it proved with Georgia having 74% of the possession in a game were Ireland often looked laboured, bereft of ideas, and, in truth, lucky to escape Tbilisi with a point thanks to Shane Duffy’s goal. At least remain unbeaten against the Crusaders and still in contention for Russia 2018 qualification even if the route will now be more difficult.
Often times the out ball for Ireland was a long, hopeful punt upfield, and the game made for frustrating watching from a green perspective as, for much of it, eight green jerseys remained entrenched firmly on the 18 yard line in front of Darren Randolph – and failed to deal with the Georgian threat in possession.
And to think, it all started so well, when after a clumsy challenge on Jonathan Walters a complete mistiming from Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Makaridze – who was shaky throughout the game – saw him miss the ball when coming to claim the lofted free kick and Shane Duffy nodded into the empty net.
Ireland led after four minutes as the home side's protests over a stray elbow from Ciaran Clark catching Makaridze fell on deaf ears. It looked like the perfect beginning for a comfortable away win, a base for Ireland to push on and take the game to the hosts.
Instead, they fell within themselves, retreating further and further and making a side ranked 112th in the world look like a Pep Guardiola Barcelona vintage.
Jano Ananidze's chip in the tenth minute over pretty much the entire Irish squad but just out of the reach of Otar Kakabadze was the warning shot, as no Irish player felt the need to rush the man with the ball, and Georgia began to get more comfortable and cute.
Nika Kvekveskiri sent in a low driven shot that worked Randolph, and a rasping cross from Kakabadze should have been turned in by Kvivitaia in the box in the 20th minute, though Ireland did go close moments later through a James McClean break.
The two full backs, Kakabadze and Navalowsky, were outstanding throughout, Kakabadze sending McClean to the shop before a great cross required fisting away by Randolph before Navalowsky began to have his way with Walters and Christie on the other side and send in some tantalising balls.
Luckily for Ireland the current Georgia side haven't a finisher the quality of Shota Arveladze, otherwise they would have been behind inside half an hour, but that didn't stop the home side getting a deserved goal back in the 37th minute.
Ananidze, on the edge of the Irish box, brought Cyrus Christie inside and then cut a cute ball into the space on the right of the Ireland box that Christie vacated. Kaziashvili slotted home easily into the far bottom corner under Randolph.
Then, the siege happened. Two efforts from Jiguari. Kvekveskiri from range and another teasing cross from Kakabadze. Each time a Shane Duffy header or a Glenn Whelan hoof was to nobody and each time the home side, roared on by the crowd in the Dinamo Arena, came right back.
A rare chance did present itself for Ireland but Duffy's header from a Brady corner was well save just before the break.
But the reality remained, Georgia were making cute passes, working it through tight spaces at will. With ten men behind the ball Ireland were still being torn apart.
The aimless play from Ireland continued in the second half, saved from further punishment from a tiring Georgian side, the two full backs aside.
Harry Arter's hopeful 25 yard volley was the only real chance before the hour and it was comfortably saved by Makaridze, but Georgia continued to dominate the ball where Ireland could have kicked on.
McClean and substitute Aiden McGeady did have two late chances to nick a win, but a heavy first touch and a woeful effort from 12 yards respectively put paid to those chances.
GEORGIA: Giorgi Makaridze; Otar Kakabadze, Solomon Kverkvelia, Guram Kashia, Giorgi Navalovsky; Nika Kvekveskiri, Valerian Gvilia, Jambul Jigauri (Giorgi Chanturia 75), Jano Ananidze, Valeri Kazaishvili (Davit Khocholava 90); Giorgi Kvilitaia (Giorgi Merebashvili 86).
Subs Not Used: Ucha Lobzhanidze, Murtaz Daushvili, Vladimir Dvalishvili, Nukri Revishvili, Irakli Sikharulidze, Lasha Shergelashvili, Giorgi Arabidze, Giorgi Aburjania, Roin Kvaskhvadze.
Booked: Nika Kvekverski (37), Jambul Jiguari (63).
IRELAND: Darren Randolph; Cyrus Christie, Ciaran Clark, Shane Duffy, Stephen Ward; Glenn Whelan (Daryl Murphy 79), Harry Arter (Aiden McGeady 61), Robbie Brady, James McClean; Jonathan Walters, Shane Long.
Subs Not Used: Kieran Westwood, Rob Elliot, Richard Keogh, John O'Shea, Kevin Long, David Meyler, Jonny Hayes, Wes Hoolahan, Daryl Horgan, Conor Hourihane, Calum O'Dowda, David McGoldrick.
Booked:James McClean (76).
Referee: Ivan Kruzliak (Slovakia)
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Giorgi Navalowsky (Georgia)
